Golf club and connection therefor

ABSTRACT

A golf putter is provided. The golf putter includes a head having a cavity. An insert member is supported within the cavity by Neoprene resilient O-rings and a shaft or hosel member is connected to the insert. Because the insert member is insulated from the head by the resilient O-rings, less impact energy is dissipated within the head. The insert member is arranged to be at the sweet spot of the head.

[0001] This invention relates to a golf club. More particularly the invention is concerned with the provision of a novel connection between the head of a golf club and the shaft. In prior art golf clubs as shown in FIG. 1a golf club 1 comprises a head 2 connected to a shaft 3, the head 2 has a striking face 4 with a so called sweet-spot 5 which is usually arranged to occur at the geometrical centre of area of the striking face 4 as indicated by the crossed lines. Ideally impact with a golf ball is sought to take place at the sweet-spot 5. A problem with this prior art arrangement is that the shaft 3 is displaced somewhat from the impact area and is fixed directly to the head 2. As a consequence of this some of the energy of impact is dissipated within the head thus lessening the amount of impact energy which can be transmitted up the shaft to the player's hands so that in one sense the amount of energy available to define “feel” is reduced.

[0002] According to the present invention there is provided a golf club having a head including a striking face with a sweet-spot, the head comprising an outer shell member defining a cavity, an insert located within the cavity spaced from the outer shell member and a shaft connection fixed to the insert through the outer shell.

[0003] The present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0004]FIG. 1 is a prior art golf club and connection.

[0005]FIG. 2 is a part sectional elevation of a golf putter in accordance with the present invention.

[0006]FIG. 3 is a part elevational view looking on arrow “A” of FIG. 2

[0007]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an insert used in the practice of the invention.

[0008]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a putter head and shaft connection in accordance with the present invention.

[0009] In FIG. 2 there is shown a golf putter 10 in accordance with the present invention. Golf putter 10 comprises a generally T-shaped head 11 connected to a shaft 12 by means of a hosel member 13. Hosel member 13 may be hollow. A shaft connection may comprise the hosel member 13 or the hosel member 13 may be dispensed with and the shaft connection may comprise a shaft 14 connected directly to the head 11. The head 11 comprises an outer shell member 15 which defines a cavity 16 within the head 11. An important part of the present invention is the use of a cylindrical inner insert member 17 located within cavity 16 of head 11. Insert member 17 is made of bronze material and defines a rear cavity 18. The bronze material is selected to be a soft ductile material to facilitate the transmission of shock. A sweet spot 19 of the head 11 is arranged to be at the centre of the circular face area of insert 17 as indicated by the crossed lines as best seen in FIG. 4. An aperture 20 is formed in insert 17 by drilling and reaming to receive and ensure a proper fit with either hosel 13 or shaft 14. As seen in FIG. 2 hosel member 13 stops short of the end of the aperture 20 so that it does not contact outer shell member 15. It is believed this arrangement enhances the transmission of impact energy to the putter shaft as feel. Cavity 18 in combination with the remaining part of cavity 16 defines a void 21 in head 11. Void 21 is believed to increase the resonance factor of head 11. Insert 17 is supported and fixed within cavity 16 by means of Neoprene resilient O-rings 22, 23 fitted to semi-circular grooves 24, 25 formed around the circular periphery of insert 17. A small clearance exists between insert 17 and a shoulder 26 formed within outer shell member 15. Also as best seen in FIG. 2 the O-rings 22,23 space the insert 17 from outer shell member 15 so that a small clearance 31 is formed which in a sense insulates insert 17 from outer shell member 15. Stabilising or inertia weights 27 are let into the sides 28 of the head 11 to minimise the effect of off-centre hits. A slot 29, see FIG. 5, assists in aiming the striking face 30 of the putter head 11. Outer shell member 15 and hosel member 13 are made of aircraft quality high strength aluminium and when shaft 12,14 comprises a substantially large diameter shaft the shaft will be made of carbon fibre material. In addition to resiliently fixing insert 17 within cavity 16 the O-rings act as seals to prevent dirt and moisture from entering void 21 through clearance 31. Shaft 14 or hosel member 13 enters the aperture 20 in insert 17 through a hole 29 drilled in outer shell member 15. As can be appreciated from FIG. 3 because insert 17 is insulated from outer shell member 15 by the resilient O-rings any impact on insert 17 is transferred more or less directly to shaft 14 or hosel 13 with less impact energy being dissipated within head 11. Consequently a golf club, for example a putter as shown in FIG. 2 may have an increased “feel factor” due to the increased energy being transmitted up the shaft 12, 14. It has been found in practice that the void 21 also enhances the feel factor. The present invention may be used with so called standard shafts. However, the invention can be most advantageously used in a putter with a substantially large diameter (between 25 and 45 mm), thin walled, parallel shaft to enhance the “feel factor”. The present invention may be used in golf clubs other than putters but in that case due care must be taken with the design because of the higher forces that may be involved. 

1. A golf club having a head including a striking face with a sweet spot, the head comprising an outer shell member defining a cavity, an inner insert member located within the cavity spaced from the outer shell member and a shaft connection fixed to the insert through the outer shell member.
 2. A golf club according to claim 1 wherein the inner insert member is resiliently supported within the cavity.
 3. A golf club according to claim 2 wherein the inner insert member is supported by resilient O-rings.
 4. A golf club according to claim 1 wherein the shaft connection comprises a hosel member fitted to the insert.
 5. A golf club according to claim 4 wherein the hosel member fits within an aperture formed in the insert and stops short of the end of the aperture so that it does not contact the outer shell member.
 6. A golf club according to claim 4 wherein the hosel member is hollow.
 7. A golf club according to claim 4 wherein the shaft connection comprises a shaft fitted to the hosel.
 8. A golf club according to claim 7 wherein the shaft member comprises a shaft of substantially large diameter (between 25 and 45 mm), thin walled, parallel shaft.
 9. A golf club according to claim 1 wherein the insert defines the sweet spot of the head.
 10. A golf club according to claim 3 wherein the O-rings seal the insert within the cavity of the outer shell member.
 11. A golf club according to claim 1 wherein the insert includes a rear cavity.
 12. A golf club according to claim 1 and claim 11 wherein the cavity in the rear of the insert and part of the cavity in the outer shell member form a void in the head.
 13. A golf club according to claim 1 comprising a putter.
 14. A golf club according to claim 1 and claim 4 wherein the outer shell member and the hosel is made of high strength aircraft quality aluminium.
 15. A golf club according to claim 1 wherein the insert is made of a soft ductile bronze material.
 16. A golf club according to claim 3 wherein the resilient O-rings comprise the material Neoprene.
 17. A golf club substantially as herein described with reference to any of FIGS. 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings. 